Celebrities come to Miami for American Black Film Festival

Hip-hop star slash actor Common was seen Thursday on The Rooftop at E11even. In town for the American Black Film Festival, the Oscar-winning artist attended a private dinner and cocktail reception hosted by Remy Martin, the festival and The City of Atlanta’s Mayor office. Afterward, guests enjoyed drinks and mingled at the rooftop lounge watching game 6 of the NBA Finals. Common was also seen that night at STK Miami Beach along with Cedric the Entertainer, who “left STK happier than Common at the end of the night as he was overheard rooting for the Cleveland Cavaliers.”

English actor and Game of Thrones star Jacob Anderson was spotted Thursday at Rec Room. In town for the ABFF, the actor was seen enjoying the night with HBO executives until about midnight. Also spotted was actor Robert Christopher Riley, widely known for his role in The Bourne Legacy.

Also in town for the fest, director Bill Duke, best known for his work in Get Rich or Die Trying, was seen having dinner Thursday at Dolce Italian at The Gale South Beach with his producer/assistant Janine Saulsbury.

Starz hosted a swanky cocktail party for the ABFF Friday at Juvia where Power star Omar Hardwick, Survivor’s Remorse stars TichinaArnold and Teyonah Parris were seen mixing and mingling with ABFF chairman Jeff Friday, and Karen Horne, senior VP of talent at NBC.

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Baltimore Ravens player Antoine Cason was seen Friday with friends at Meat Market before heading to the bartenders’ tasting table at Sweet Liberty.

Adam Sandler had dinner Wednesday at LT Steak & Seafood located in The Betsy-South Beach. He spent the afternoon into evening at the restaurant enjoying chef Laurent Tourondel’s new menu of seasonal American dishes.

Jonathan Vilma, Chris Bosh, Bryant Mckinnie and DJ Williams were all spotted Thursday night, watching the NBA Finals at American Social Brickell.

New England Patriots tight end and GQ cover boy Rob Gronkowski was seen Friday celebrating the fourth anniversary of Hyde Beach at the SLS South Beach. Gronkowski was joined by a large group and had what our spies call a “major dance party,” joined by Patriots teammate Julian Edelman, brother and Buffalo Bills player Glenn Gronkowski, and WWW star Mojo Rawley. Gronk’s gang chatted with Indianapolis Colts player Vontae Davis and danced for over almost two hours before heading to Byblos for a little sustenance, then Rockwell, where they kept the party going. At Byblos, Gronk and his gang sat at a table next to Gabrielle Union and her friends, including ESPN personality Jemele Hill. Gronkowski and his friends even started a dance party by their dinner table, which Union Snapchatted for those who are curious to see how he moves off the field. Gronk and his entourage headed to E11even Miami where viral rapper PhillipKastabanis, better known as Stitches, arrived around 3 a.m. Also there: Tyson Beckford and Flo Rida, who was spotted with friends on Sunday at Sugar Factory American Brasserie on Ocean Drive before the Game 7 of the NBA Finals, gladly posing for pix with fans.

Congrats to Mandarin Oriental, Miami’s executive chef Jean Luc Royere, who has been inducted into the fancy French Master Chef Society, aka Maitre Cuisiniers de France, one of the country’s highest culinary honors with members including Eric Ripert and Daniel Boulud. Royere, who oversees the kitchens at La Mar and Azul, was carefully chosen by strict criteria: must be French citizens with at least 10 years’ experience, two mentors, and, we’re told, “the patience to wait until the elder master chefs decide you're ready for the 'master' title." “We're so proud that Chef Royere is representing Miami with this esteemed recognition,” said a hotel spokesperson.

Rumored couple Miss Universe 2016 — Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach — and Instagram's famed Dr. Mike, who is billed as “The World's Hottest Doctor,” were spotted cozying up to each other Saturday night at LIV despite reports that they split in late May.

About Lesley Abravanel

Lesley Abravanel covers nightlife in her weekly column, Velvet Underground, in which she scopes the scene for stars, scandal and social studies. A former wanna-be clubkid in the late 80s NYC club scene heyday, she skipped town for Miami, where she's been since 1990--the so-called halcyon days of South Beach clubdom.